Ms. Berry’s Guidelines for the Senior English Research Paper
Supplies: Purchase 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” lined notecards, rubber bands, and a large
accordion-style folder.
Topic: Pick a topic on a nonfiction subject that interests you so that the research process
will be interesting; however, follow these guidelines. Do NOT research a person, a
disease, a state or country, a work of fiction, or a topic that you have previously
researched or know a lot about. Do NOT research a topic related to your senior project
class. Do NOT pick a topic that is unsuitable for classroom discussion; keep this school
appropriate. Some suggested topics might include the following: hybrid cars, alchemy,
scuba diving, genetic engineers, organ sale, piracy, tornados, wind energy, conserving
energy, workaholics, desert mirages, nuclear power, Salem witch trials, artificial tanning,
beauty contests, women’s suffrage, paparazzi, censorship, gladiators, skateboarding, art,
bow hunting, Al Qaida, terrorism, airport security, ninjas, samurai warriors, child
soldiers, hip hop, war on drugs, Freedom Riders, prisons, gambling, bi-polar disorder,
sleep disorders, and vaccines.
To claim a topic, you must locate an informational/nonfiction book on the topic and
get it approved by the teacher. The book should be on an appropriate reading level
(high school). If you are unsure what topic to research, go to a bookstore and look
at book titles. If a title interests you, read a few pages to make sure the writer’s
style is understandable to you. If you like the book, buy it---if at all possible. If you
cannot afford the book, go to the library and check it out. You will, however, have
to recheck the book several times because I must have the book when I grade your
paper.
Sources: You must have a minimum of five sources. Use only one reputable
encyclopedia article (NOT WIKIPEDIA). The other sources should be a combination
of books, pamphlets, and reputable articles from the Internet. Internet sources must
be .edu, .gov, .mil, or .org------not .com. ALL FIVE SOURCES MUST BE
CORRECTLY DOCUMENTED, USED, AND QUOTED IN THE PAPER. I MUST
HAVE A HARD COPY OF ALL MATERIALS USED IN THE PAPER. PRINT
YOUR INTERNET SOURCES. HAVE THE BOOK(S) AVAILABLE FOR THE
TEACHER’S INSPECTION. A PAPER WITHOUT SOURCES WILL BE GIVEN
A 40. YOUR PAPER MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS. IF YOU USE THE
WORDS OR IDEAS OF ANOTHER WITHOUT GIVING CREDIT, THIS IS
CALLED PLAGIARISM. ANY PAPER CONTAINING TWO OR MORE
CARELESS EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM WILL BE GIVEN A 40, BUT A
PAPER WITH HUGE SECTIONS STOLEN FROM THE INTERNET OR ANY
OTHER SOURCE WILL BE GIVEN A 0. ALSO, DO NOT QUOTE MORE
THAN 10 PERCENT OF YOUR PAPER. THE PAPER NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR
OWN WORDS---NOT SIMPLY COPIED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. PAPERS
THAT USE EXCESSIVE QUOTES WILL BE GIVEN A 40.
Page Guidelines: This paper must be typed and double-spaced with the standard
one-inch margins. Use 12 as your font size and Times New Roman as your font. The
length of the paper (text only) will be from five to seven typed pages. This means that
for most papers the Works Cited page will be the sixth page. (This paper must be typed,
or it will not be accepted. If you do not have a computer, you will need to use the library.
Don’t wait until the last minute to type the paper; computers do strange things when least
expected.) Another good idea is to save the paper in several locations, including a jump
drive.
Style: We will follow the MLA Style Manual. A research paper is a formal paper,
which means that you will use third person point of view. You will NOT use the
following pronouns—unless in a direct quote: I, me, my, us, we, you, your, yours, our, or
ours. Use pronouns such as he, she, him, her, his, hers, they, them, or their, but use
pronouns SPARINGLY. AVOID USING IT, WHICH IS OFTEN TOO VAGUE. Do
not use contractions or abbreviations; spell out everything. A formal paper requires that
you avoid slang. Furthermore, read the paper OUT LOUD to make sure you have
avoided being repetitive. Also, do not start several sentences with the same word within
a paragraph. Vary your wording and use elevated vocabulary.
Attendance and Formative Grades: Students are expected to attend class with their
sources and note cards since they will work on the paper daily. I will give formative
grades periodically for the work done in class on the paper; students must also be
prepared to tell the class what they have learned about their topic.
The following items will be graded on the days indicated. Be
prepared before you walk into class. Stay on task by following
these due dates:
1. Book and Topic Approved by the Teacher: Thursday, October 23 (A) or Friday,
October 24 (B)
2. Read the book, locate four other sources, NARROW the topic, and write source
cards. Sources and source cards will be graded on Wednesday, October 29 (A) or
Thursday, October 30 (B).
3. Write a tentative topic outline that includes the thesis statement, four to five main
topics (the Roman numerals) that support the thesis, and a few supporting details (the A’s
and B’s). Thursday, November 6 (A) or Friday, November 7 (B)
4. Select information that supports the thesis and record the information on note cards.
Make sure to include the topic from the OUTLINE on the note card too. Fifty relevant
note cards that cover all the sections from your outline are due on Friday, November
14 (A) or Monday, November 17 (B)
5. Revise and extend your sentence outline and thesis statement. Write topic
sentences for the body sections and add supporting evidence from your note cards.
Follow the outline and type the ROUGH DRAFT. Monday, December 1 (A) or
Tuesday, December 2 (B) (TEST GRADE)
6. Revise and edit your paper. You must have at least two other seniors read the
paper, write comments on the paper, and complete the Peer Feedback and Review
Checklist, p. 159. This will be submitted with the final paper.
7. Type the works cited page following the MLA guidelines. Only include the works
you actually used in the paper. This will be the last page of your final paper.
8. Complete the Research Paper Final Checklist, p. 161. Include this in your research
folder.
9. Submit the final research paper in an accordion folder with the sources.
FINAL DRAFT DUE DATE: THE RESEARCH PAPER WILL COUNT AS
YOUR EXAM GRADE. ALL PAPERS SUBMITTED ON DECEMBER 9 AND 10
WILL RECEIVE 10 BONUS POINTS. ALL PAPERS SUBMITTED ON
DECEMBER 11 AND 12 WILL RECEIVE 5 BONUS POINTS. ALL PAPERS
SUBMITTED ON DECEMBER 15 -17 WILL BE ON TIME. ALL PAPERS
SUMBITTED ON DECEMBER 18-19 WILL LOSE 10 POINTS. NO PAPERS
WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 10:00 A.M. ON DECEMBER 19.
If you send your paper by another student, make sure that student puts the paper in
my hands. DO NOT PUT THE PAPER IN MY BOX OR ON MY DESK.
Organize your research folder as follows:
1. Typed Final Draft (Stapled in this order: Outline, Paper,
Works Cited, and Senior Research Paper Rubric)
2. Sources with Source Cards attached
3. Graded Extended Topic Outline and Rough Draft with the
Rubric Attached
4. Note Cards (divided and labeled according to the outline)
5. Peer Feedback and Review Checklist, p. 159 (two)
6. Research Paper Final Checklist, p. 161
7. Handouts and Other Drafts